Made By A Fabricista: Mix n Match Jungle Vibes

Hi Fabric Mart Fans! For years now, my youngest has adored leopard print, so when she saw this fabric available in time for our next project, she was adamant that she needed it! My eldest on the other hand, was drawn to the bold floral print on Cotton Lycra Knit, which I thought would make a fabulous dress or capri length romper. Twelve year-olds have opinions though and after it arrived, she refused a dress and romper, so we compromised on shorts and a t-shirt.

With such drastically different fabrics, I decided to bring the looks together for this post by using the same patterns for each one. It’s amazing how different fabrics can change things up! I also wanted to make the pieces have an option for a faux romper, along with the ability to mix and match for more wardrobe possibilities.

Both pants and shorts were made using Jalie Sylvie. This pattern has three length options: shorts, capri, and long. It also has an optional teeny-tiny inside pocket, perfect for a credit card, key, or cash. Unfortunately there are no pockets on the outside, and since the pant has no side seams (great for making them more comfy!), it’s not possible to add inseam pockets. You could certainly try adding one or two to the back as patch pockets.

I used Jalie Monique for the sleeved top. This one also has some really great options, with two sleeve styles - banded (blue), and grown-on (green). It also has two neckline options - v-neck and funnel, and a dress option in addition to the top length. I really love the feel of both the fabrics I used in these. Both are Rayon Lycra Jersey Knits, though the green feels slightly heavier weight than the blue. I really loved the sleeve construction on this top. The instructions for the grown-on sleeve are cleverly done to ensure a nice clean finish on your sleeve hem.

The tank top pattern (Jalie Beatrice) also has a bunch of options! I just used the rounded neckline for both, however there’s another option for narrow straps with a straight neckline, and the ability to make it as a dress instead. Since cotton lycra is fairly sturdy, I found it the easiest one to make as the binding was a bit more compliant. The leopard version was a little more fiddly as it probably didn’t have quite enough stretch, however I got there in the end! (Just don’t look too closely at the stitching on the binding!)

Overall, my girls LOVE their new outfits. My youngest promptly insisted on wearing full leopard to her first tennis class, and has requested I make ears to go with it. Also, she says she will be a leopard for Halloween (for now!). My eldest especially adores her shorts with the blue top, and I really love how they look on her as well.

Sometimes the task of building out a wardrobe for someone can feel a bit daunting, so here are some tips:

Select just a couple of fabrics for your entire collection

Stick with 2-3 patterns for all the pieces. Opt for patterns that give you a couple of options.

Batch sew like items - I sewed all the seams for the pants, then all the tops, and lastly, top stitched in batches according to the fabric.

Happy sewing!